Police Investigate Pipe Bomb Found Near Green Oaks School

August 07, 1997

Waukegan firefighters were called to a Green Oaks elementary school early Tuesday to remove a pipe bomb found taped to a tree on school grounds.

The bomb, about 2 inches in diameter and 6 inches long, was found at about 8 a.m. on a tree 25 feet from Oak Grove Elementary School, 1700 O'Plaine Rd., said Laura Hedien, a technician on the Waukegan Fire Department bomb squad.

No pupils were in the school, which is to open Sept. 2.

Hedien said it appeared someone had tried to ignite the bomb with a sparkler, but failed.

The bomb had been taken to a large open area near the school when the bomb squad arrived, Hedien said. Bomb squad members detonated it without incident.

Hedien said there have been no other reports of pipe bomb incidents recently, and that the Lake County Sheriff's Department would investigate the incident.

Oak Grove School District 68 Supt. Patrick Patt said the tree was on the south side of the building, where there is little activity over the summer. The north side is undergoing an expansion, and the main offices are in the middle of the school.